In the aftermath of last Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, people are asking what could have been done to prevent the ambush-style attack that left 20 children and six adults dead. The answer isn't clear, but local school officials say they're doing everything they can.

In the aftermath of last Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, people are asking what could have been done to prevent the ambush-style attack that left 20 children and six adults dead. The answer isn't clear, but local school officials say they're doing everything they can.

We have a district-by-district list of security measures in place at area schools.

A vigil for the people of Newton, Conn., is being held tonight in Stroudsburg. It begins at 5:30 p.m. in Courthouse Square.

President Obama says he is launching an administration-wide effort to curb gun violence in response to the massacre. He's tasked Vice President Joe Biden (aka “Sheriff Joe”) with spearheading the effort. No word yet on whether Biden will surrender his Beretta.

Continuing with the topic of safety, the Safe 80 Task Force will discuss options for dealing with speeders on the interstate following last week's tractor-trailer wrecks. One potential option: using camera surveillance to enforce the speed limit.

Stroud Area Regional Police are investigating an early-morning fire that destroyed an abandoned vehicle at Route 209 and Shafers Schoolhouse Road in Stroud Township.

The bargaining session scheduled for today between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the faculty union, which represents teachers at ESU, has been canceled. Talks will resume after the new year.

Meanwhile, Penn State trustees have approved hiking their president's pay by 16 percent. Rodney Erickson will now make $600,000 a year.

Moving on to the police blotter … A Canadensis contractor has been indicted by a federal grand jury in a bank fraud case.

Police say a Kunkletown man tried to steal $447 in groceries from the Bartonsville Giant supermarket.

Get ready for some wintry weather. A vigorous cold front is forecast to move through the region Friday. Preceding it, showers with locally heavy rain are possible.

There's still time to enter our Holiday Photo Contest. Send us photos of your tree or lights display – or anything else holiday related – for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Johnny O's Bar & Grille.

When Briana Yetter lost nine horses in a fire that destroyed her stable at Pleasant Ridge Farm in Barrett Township last year, she thought it would take years to rebuild and have horses again. Instead, with help from a concerned community and contractor, it took only nine months to rebuild.

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